Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Kain
Eva ran past me, chasing after some guy in a black baseball cap with a purse that obviously didn’t belong to him. Her grandfather had stopped on the sidewalk, obviously trying to catch his breath. He met my gaze, and panic sparked in his eyes.
“Check on the old man,” I told Godfrey, then rushed after Eva.
With my long legs and all the hours spent working out at the gym, I caught up to Eva quickly.
She stopped on the sidewalk, huffing and puffing.
I passed her and reached the crook. He turned and threw a fist at me.
I ducked, punched him in the face twice, and something cracked.
He fell back against a trash can on the sidewalk, dropping the purse.
The contents were scattered on the sidewalk.
“You want more?” I hissed and prepared for battle. I boxed as a hobby, and right now I was itching to beat the shit out of him.
The criminal held a hand to his face as blood dripped from his nose. The glaze over his eyes told me he was on drugs.
“You broke my nose!” he spat.
A police cruiser pulled up to the curb. Detective McNally exited his car, offered me a nod, and went over to the thief, who now leaned against a tree.
“He fuckin’ broke my nose!” the criminal repeated.
“Next time I’ll break your damn fingers too,” I retorted. “Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you. Got that?” I grabbed the scattered belongings from the ground and placed them back into the purse.
“Not another word from you.” Detective McNally cuffed him. “I’ve got a bunch of calls from witnesses describing what you did. Ballsy of you to steal in the middle of the day with all these people around.” He shoved the asshole into the police cruiser.
“You okay?” Godfrey walked over with Eva’s grandfather.
Something about him looked familiar, but I didn’t know what.
“I’m fine.”
“I have a meeting to attend. You good?”
“Go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Eva’s grandfather rushed up to her, looking terrified. “Did he hurt you, sweetheart?”
“No, I’m all right.” She placed a hand on his back, rubbing slowly. “Are you okay, Grandpa? Do you need to sit down?”
“Don’t you worry about me.” Her grandfather waved a dismissive hand and turned to me. “Thank you for helping my granddaughter.” He stared at me for a long moment. “You saved the day.”
I gave Eva her purse back. “You should check to see if everything’s there.”
She looked at me. “Thanks for your help. Are you all right?” She glanced at my clenched fist that still wanted to pound the asshole.
Relaxing my hands, I said, “I’m okay. Are you?” I gave her a once-over, and she appeared fine.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She nodded. “This is Grandpa Collins, the man who texted you.” She turned to her grandfather. “This is my friend, Kain.”
Grandpa Collins considered me from top to bottom. He stood about five foot five, a little taller than Eva. He had a round belly and friendly brown eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
“Nice to meet you, Kain.” He extended a hand. “Sorry about the message.” But his slight smirk told me he wasn’t that sorry.
“Don’t worry about it.” I shook his firm grip.
“Thank you for getting Eva’s purse back.”
“You’re welcome.”
George waved Eva over for some questions while the thief sat inside the cruiser.
“What’s your last name?” Grandpa Collins asked, looking up at me with curious eyes that studied the tattoos on my neck.
The question surprised me, but I answered anyway. “Kessler.”
“Why so many tattoos?”
“Why not? You have any?”
“I do, in fact.” He smiled. “It’s on my ass. A heart with my sweetheart’s name on it. But now it looks like a wrinkled fruit. Tats on wrinkled skin change the art, you know?”
I laughed, not wanting to imagine it. My eyes swung back to Eva, who appeared calm and collected while chatting with Detective McNally.
“I appreciate what you did. My Eva would’ve gotten hurt if you hadn’t helped.
She was furious when he grabbed her purse.
I almost keeled over. I couldn’t believe she ran after him.
Is that what you folks in the city do when you’re robbed?
” He shivered. “I’d just let the thief have it.
But my baby girl probably has important stuff in her purse. ”
“Brookline is considered a town,” I said.
“It’s a town packed with people like a city. It’s practically sitting next to Boston. Not to mention how insane the rent is around here. I’m trying to persuade Eva to move up north. She can buy a big house there with the amount of money she shells out for rent here.”
“There’s a hefty price for convenience. We’ve got the best hospitals and colleges here.”
“I suppose,” he huffed. “There’s fire in my girl. Thank you for intervening. Are you free for lunch in a couple of days?”
Wow.
The situation amused me. His granddaughter had rejected me before, and now Grandpa Collins was asking me out.
Well, sort of. Regardless, this man just made my day.
But if he knew my intentions with Eva, would he still invite me?
I liked his friendliness and openness. Again, there was this strange familiarity about him, even though I’d never met him.
An idea sparked in my head. This was my opportunity to get to know Eva and discuss our next meeting and the next steps. Maybe one of them would lead to an actual date.
I didn’t give up on what I wanted. The relentless pursuit of survival had saved my life and made me a successful businessman.
“I’d never say no to lunch with a smart man who has an interesting tattoo on his ass.”
Grandpa Collins burst out laughing, placing a hand on my arm as though we were buddies. “If I want another tattoo, can you recommend a place?”
“My place.” I gestured to the Kessler Building. “Body Canvas.”
His eyes brightened. “You’re a tattoo artist?”
“When there’s time. I have a team that helps me manage all my studios.”
“So you’re successful now?”
I arched an eyebrow at the question. “I’m doing well for myself.”
“Lunch will be at Eva’s place because I’m cooking.” He rubbed his hands together. “To celebrate gettin’ a bad guy off the streets.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was going to be inside Eva’s home. Today almost seemed like fate. I’d never believed in that stuff, but I couldn’t explain it any other way. The dude up there must have understood my desires. Thanks, man.
Eva approached her grandfather, and George came up to me. “You okay?”
“Fine. You know the asshole?” I jerked my chin toward his cruiser.
“There have been a few car break-ins recently along Beacon Street. He could be our guy. I’ll find out after I get his fingerprints. Catch you later.”
I nodded and watched him drive off with his flashing lights.
Grandpa Collins looked at me. “Please thank your friend for me. The good-looking guy wearing the sweater. It was nice of him to stay with me.”
“I’ll let Godfrey know.”
Eva smiled at me. “Thanks again for chasing after the thief. You caught up to him fast.”
Did she think I ran after the idiot because I wanted brownie points with her? That would be absurd. The thought didn’t even occur to me. I ran after him because I feared for her safety. Would she believe me if I told her that?
“Your shop has wonderful plants. I like them,” I lied. Well, I was learning to like them. They added color and character to my boring office.
She raised one eyebrow, waiting for me to elaborate. I didn’t. This wasn’t the time or place for me to admit how many unnecessary plants I’d purchased from her shop.
Grandpa Collins cleared his throat, reminding us of his presence. “Eva, I just invited Kain to have lunch with us in two days. It’s the least we can do. I’m making my special meatloaf. I hope you’re okay with that.”
Disbelief splashed across her face. She opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it.
“Whatever you want, Grandpa.” Her expression warmed. “I want you to enjoy your stay. If you want to cook and invite people over to my place, that’s fine with me.”
I heard the slight sarcasm in her words, which earned her a hug from her grandfather. The closeness made my chest tighten, remembering my mother. If she were still alive, we’d be close too.
A couple strode up and gave Eva a small tube of lotion that probably got scattered when her purse fell.
“I’m trying to find you the perfect criminal,” Grandpa Collins muttered to himself as Eva thanked the couple.
I didn’t get any bad vibes from Grandpa Collins, but what exactly did he mean by finding the “perfect criminal”? Had Grandpa Collins committed a crime of some sort? Why would he want his granddaughter to be with a criminal? It made no sense.
Despite the doubts, I was desperate for a chance with Eva. If I had to deal with an insane and unpredictable old man, I’d do it.
Eva offered me her address. “Well, I’ll see you soon.”
She lived two blocks from me. How had I not bumped into her all this time?